News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko has separately reported that equipment based in Belarus helps relay or amplify signals for Russian Shahed and Geran drones heading toward western Ukraine and Poland's border region.

Among the drones it produces are the Sarych, which uses video and thermal imaging equipment for surveillance, and the Klin, a loitering munition designed to strike targets, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

The Russian soldiers are believed to belong to the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is operating in the area. Kravchuk alleged that orders of this nature within the brigade are issued at the initiative of its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak.

"Today, this is fully under Europe's control. That means (Russian assets) are safe for now," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine has secured contracts and assurances from partners on additional supplies of F-16 ammunition, Zelensky noted, adding that the current deliveries were at a "satisfactory level."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on oct. 17 U.S. President Donald Trump was "wrong" to further "block" sanctions against Russia, while expressing hope that he would do "everything possible" to stop the full-scale war.

Zelensky called the restrictions a "planned operation" targeting Ukraine, noting that Starlink speed limits remain in effect in Ukraine but not in EU countries.

Since President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the resumption of strikes on Oct. 15, Kyiv has not reported any new attacks on Russian oil refineries or confirmed reports of such strikes.

Ukrainian forces downed 289 out of the 332 drones, including jet-powered attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russian drones and ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model struck 22 different locations, and debris fell in three areas.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a broad waiver of sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Oct. 16.

Zelensky asked EU leaders for an additional 70 billion euros to help cover Ukraine's defense and "resilience" needs in 2027, as Kyiv grapples with a budget shortfall amid escalating Russian attacks.

"Republicans and Democrats passed this law in Lindsey Graham's name to squeeze Russia's war revenues. Trump has now hollowed it out before its main sanctions could bite," said Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald.

The number includes 1,950 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Where heating is available, many cannot afford to adequately heat their homes. Only 32% of households reported being able to do so during the last heating season, a figure that dropped to just 1% in frontline regions.